St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center Launches New Pain Management Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Program

Thursday, March 21, 2013

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New Physiatrist Heads Program Aimed at Managing Pain through
Musculoskeletal Treatment and Rehabilitation

St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, a member of Steward Health Care and a
teaching affiliate of Tufts University School of Medicine, has recently
begun a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Program as part of its
comprehensive Pain Management Center. Run by a trained physiatrist, the
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Program focuses on working with
patients who have suffered spine, orthopedic or other injuries by
applying a wide variety of treatments for the musculoskeletal system -
the muscles, bones and associated nerves, ligaments, tendons and other
structures – and the musculoskeletal disorders that cause pain and/or
difficulty with functioning.

Dr. Radha Vijayakumar is a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
specialist leading the program and working with St. Elizabeth’s Pain
Management Center. A physiatrist typically oversees the physical
rehabilitation portion of a patient’s treatment. Physiatrists often
prescribe medication for pain management for a short-term situation. Dr.
Vijayakumar works specifically with patients being seen by St.
Elizabeth’s Bone & Joint Center physicians, consulting on orthopedic
patients, and also in the St. Elizabeth’s Pain Clinic.

Dr. Vijayakumar earned her medical degree from Calicut Medical College
University of Calicut, Kerala, India. She completed her fellowship at
Tufts Medical Center and residencies at Boston Medical Center and
Brockton Hospital. Dr. Vijayakumar is certified by the American Board of
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Board of
Electrodiagnostic Medicine.

“Dr. Vijayakumar is a wonderful addition to the Pain Center team at St.
Elizabeth’s,” said Frederic Gerges, MD, Director of the Pain Management
Center at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center. “Our goal in the Pain
Management Center is to help our patient become as functional and
pain-free as soon as possible so as to best enjoy life. Radha’s training
and experience and her collaborative nature will make her an integral
part of many of our patient’s treatment plans.”

To make an appointment, please call the St. Elizabeth’s Center for Pain
Management at 617-789-3100.

About St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center
St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center is a major academic medical center
affiliated with Tufts University School of Medicine. Areas of
medical excellence include cardiology, neurosciences, general and
robotic surgery, bariatric surgery, women’s health, high-risk
obstetrics, bone and joint health, hematology/oncology, pulmonary
medicine and emergency medicine. St. Elizabeth’s is a member of
Steward Health Care, which is the second largest health care system in
New England. Visit St. Elizabeth’s online at Steward.org/St-Elizabeths.